Gasket



April 7, 1936. L. H. DARBYSHIRE GASKET Original Filed Aug. 8, 1932Patented Apr. 7., 1936 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE GASKET Originalapplication August 8, 1932, Serial No.

Divided and this application August 13, 1934, Serial No. 739,611

3 Claims.

This application is a division of an application for Gasket filed August8, 1932, and bearing Serial Number 627,865., which has matured intoPatent No. 1,995,379.

This invention relates to freezer construction for mechanicalrefrigerators and has special reference to the elimination of aircirculation into a. quick freezing compartment used for the productionof ice cubes and frozen desserts.

I have found that when air circulation is permitted into the rquickfreezing compartment thatfrost is deposited on the walls and containerstherein, causing the containers to stick and preventing easy removalthereof. The air circulation also carries food odors into thecompartment to contaminate the water or delicate confections beingfrozen with unpalatable foreign flavors. It has been heretofore proposedto use a door over the end of the compartment, but even that isinsuii'icient to prevent deposition of frost around the mouth of thecompartment, due to the extreme low temperatures maintained thereinwhich serve to condense the moisture in the air attracted to the lowtemperature area. I have discovered that it requires the provision of ahighly efficient air seal toeliminate condensation and frosting so thatit is an object of this invention to provide such a seal.

It is another object of this invention to provide an air seal or gasketthat can be applied to the shell of the quick freezing compartment andthat will be yieldingly interposed between the end of the shell and aspring closed door.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an elastic gasketengaging both the periphery and edge of an open ended compartmentwhereby to maintain the gasket in position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means for sealingthe freezer compartment of a refrigerator from the food storagecompartment, independent of operation of the door for said food storagecompartment.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be aparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawing.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawing andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front view of an open refrigerator showing theshield and door covering the freezing unit and ice tray receptacle orsleeve;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the 55 front end of thefreezer sleeve with a gasket ap- 1pilied thereto embodying one form ofthis inven- Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,adding the door thereto; and

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3, embodying a modified form ofgasket.

As shown on the drawing;

The top portion of an opened refrigerator compartment III is shown inFig. 1 to illustrate the location of a freezer unit behind a shield I Iapertured for entry to the open end of a freezer sleeve I2 into whichtrays are inserted to produce ice cubes or-frozen confections. Theshield aperture is closed by a door I3 normally held shut by springhinges I4.

The freezer sleeve I2 is formed as rectangular in section to accommodatea stack of ice trays and may be slightly enlarged to form'a shoulder I5back of the open end I6 to facilitate access to and removal of selectedtrays. It may also be advantageous to roll back the edge of the entranceend as shown at I1 in Fig. 3, although if desired, the end may bearranged otherwise as, for example, flared as at I8 in Fig. 4.

An endless gasket ring of resilient or elastic material I9 is shaped toconform to the profile of the enlarged part of the shell, with a frontbead portion 20 overlapping the edge of the opening and a rear portion2I seating behind the shoulder formed by the enlarged part of the shell.The ring is stretched to snap over the shell, the stretching causing atension in cross section which causes the front and rear portions tosnugly t the corresponding parts of the shell to retain the gasket inplace, the front bead 20 serving as a bumper and seal against the innersurface of the door. It is desirable to slightly undercut the front beadto form a reentrant inner surface 22 for the lip 23 of the bumper.

While I have described thepreferred form of gasket shown in Fig. 3 asmade of resilient or elastic material, I desire to have it understoodthat I do not desire to limit myself to the use of solid livel rubber,since other materials may be utilized to support the front bead formingthe bumper and gasket seal.

A modified form. of gasket construction as shown in Fig. 4 comprises abead 24 adapted to engage over the flared end of the shell, an innerclip 25 holding the bead in place.

It will thus be seen that I have invented an improved closure sealinggasket particularly adapted. for use in sealing the quick freezingcompartment from contaminating air circulation and in the prevention offrosting and sticlnng 'of the trays inserted'therein, my sealing gasketbeing adapted to retain its eective position without interfering withthe insertion or removai of the trays. Y j

The cabinet III is provided with a Ydoor 30 for closing the food storagecompartment,y and which door operates independently of the freezer com'-partment closure member I 3;: i

While several specic embodiments of my f nvention have been iilustratedand described, it must be appreciated that many modications may be madeinthe construction thereof with-- out departing from the scope of theinvention, and for that reason I do not desire to be limited to anyparticular form or arrangement except in so far as such limitationse'areincluded in the ,following claims.

I claim: n

1. The combination with a freezer compartment formed by a compartmentmember provided with an access opening and a closure member spaced fromsaid compartment member but cooperating with said compartment member toclose said access opening, of a yieiding sealing element supported bylone of said members and engageable with the other of said members so asto be positioned between said members around the periphery of saidaccess opening to prevent the entrance of air into said compartmentmember and retard transmission of cold from said compartment member tosaid closure member, a heat insulated compartment surrounding saidcompartment and closure members, said insulated compartment having adoor opening rendering said closure and compartment members accessible,and a door for said insulated compartment operable independently of saidclosure member. t

2.A The combination with a freezer compartment formed by a sleeve memberhaving an open end to provide an access opening, and a closure memberspaced from the open end of said sleeve memof said sleeve member bei*but cooperating with said sleeve member to close said access opening, ofa resilient sealing strip embracing the periphery of the open end andprojecting into engagement with said closure member so as to bepositioned betweenrr said members to prevent the entrance of air intosaid sleeve member and retard transmission of cold from said sleevemember to saidgclosure member, a heat insulated coinpartment surroundingsaid sleeve and ciosure members, said insulated compartment having adoor opening rendering said closure and sleeve 'members accessible, anda door for said insulated compartment operable independently of saidclosure member.

3. 'I'he combination with a freezer compartment formed by a sleevemember provided with an access opening, and a closure member spaced fromsaid sleeve member but cooperating with said sleeve member to close saidaccess opening, or a yieldable sealing element supported by one of saidmembers and engageable with the other of said members so as to bepositioned between said vmembers around the periphery of said accessopening to prevent the entrance of air into said sleeve member andretard transmission of cold from said sleeve member to said closuremember, a heat insulated compartment surrounding said sleeve member andprovided with a door opening rendering said closure member accessible,a'shield adjacent said door opening and said sleeve member, said shieldhaving an opening adjacent said access opening to render Y said sleevemember accessible and being spaced rom said sleeve member, said closuremember being pivotally supported by said shield to provide for closingthe opening in said shield when positioned to close said access opening,and a :'ioor for said insulated compartment operable inriependently ofsaid closure member.

LEONARD H. DARBYSHIRE.

